Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Peshtigo
- Type: Three-masted barkentine
- Year Built: 1863
- Builder: Thomas Spears, Peshtigo, Wisconsin
- Dimensions: Length 161 ft (49 m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: 602 tons (old style)
- Depth at Wreck Site: 60 m / 200 ft
- Location: Collision site between Beaver Island and North Fox Island
- Official Number: 19663
- Original Owners: Th. Beebe Company, Chicago, IL
- Number of Masts: Three
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Peshtigo was a wooden barkentine—schooner-rigged fore-and-aft on main and mizzen, with square sails on foremast—designed for extensive Great Lakes freight service. At 161 ft (49 m), 602 old tons, she was among the larger sailing vessels built in Peshtigo.
Description
The Peshtigo was constructed in 1863 and served various Great Lakes ports, primarily carrying coal and other goods. Ownership remained with the Chicago-based Th. Beebe Company until her loss.
History
On 26 June 1878, while navigating Lake Michigan in dense fog and drifting smoke from regional fires, the Peshtigo collided with the three-masted schooner St. Andrews. The impact caused the Peshtigo to sink within minutes; two crew members died. Survivors, rescued by the schooner S.V.R. Watson, reported the collision occurred between Beaver Island and North Fox Island.
Significant Incidents
- Collision with the schooner St. Andrews in fog and smoke.
- Two crew members lost their lives in the incident.
Final Disposition
The Peshtigo sank rapidly after the collision, coming to rest bow-to-bow with the St. Andrews. Both vessels are now preserved on the lake bottom in approximately 60 m (200 ft) of water, separated by about 10 ft.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck lies in excellent preservation: both hulls are intact, with masts downed and cargo (coal) scattered across the bottom. Accessibility is limited to technical deep-water divers under Michigan’s wreck protections.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”peshtigo-us-19663″ title=”References & Links”]
This dual wreck site fills a historical gap—correcting previous misplacement of the Peshtigo in Lake Huron—and provides a rare, close-proximity pairing of vessels from a single collision. The site is archaeologically valuable for understanding late 19th-century Great Lakes sailing freight.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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